Relief orthostat depicting an ox

myminifactory

Humans construct massive stones with slab-like shapes that have been intentionally set upright, eliminating cubes from consideration as orthostats. Menhirs and standing stones qualify as orthostats technically, yet archaeologists apply the term specifically to individual prehistoric stones forming part of larger structures. Widespread examples include the walls of chamber tombs and other megalithic monuments as well as the vertical elements of trilithons at Stonehenge. Later on, especially, orthostats are often carved with decorations in relief, a common feature of Hittite architecture and Assyrian sculpture among other styles. In these cases, orthostats take the form of large thin gypsum slabs carefully formed for use as wall facings secured by metal fasteners and adorned with reliefs that were then painted.